Loose-leaf binder



March 25, 1930. A. G. LOTTER 1,751,553

' LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 26 928 Patented Mar. 25, 1930 STES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPIHG. LorrER, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB 'ro STATIONERS LOOSE LEAF 00., or MILWAUKEE,- wIscoNsIN, A CORPORATION on wIscoN'sIN LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application filed November 26, 1928. Serial No/321,906.

a This invention relates to certain new and useful lmprovements 1n loose leaf binders and refers more particularly to binders especially adapted for machine bookkeeping whereln a 5 pair of binder heads are connected by an ex tensible back for receiving and securely 1 clamping a plurality of leaves therebetween.

Heretofore, the means for moving the binder heads toward and away from each other has been comparatively complicated, and, therefore, it is an object of this invention-to provide a loose leaf binder of thecharacter described in which the means for'xopera ting the head members is materially simplified.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved construction for binders of the character described in which two of the post members are operable to move the binderheads.

in the provision of an improved construction for loose leaf binders adaptable for machine bookkeeping which incorporates telescoping rotatable ,posts andflexible extensible posts. And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision ofimprovedmeans for quickly attaching'and detaching the legs or supports for the covers of a loose leaf binder adapted for machine bookkeeping.

With the above and other objects in view 1 which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of'my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: 7,

Figure 1 is aiview of the inside of the extensible back of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention, parts thereof being broken away and in section;

Figure 2' is a view, partly in section and A further object ofthis invention resides the plane of the line 2-2;

partly in elevation, taken through Figureon i Figure 3 is an end view of the binder in I open position, and

' Figure 4is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the cover-supporting legs.

' Referring now more particularly to theaccompanying drawing, in which like numerals I designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 and 6 represent a pair of covers, of any suitable type or construction, hingedly connected as at 7 with a pair of binder heads 8 and 9, respectively. The binder heads are connected by an extensible back 10 consisting of two interlocking sections Hand 12, carried by the heads 8 and 9, respectively, and are further connected by a pair of rotatable tele- Ihe leaves 15 are provided with apertures (not shown) adjacent their inner ends to rescoping posts 13 and. a pair of flexible posts 14 ceive the posts 13 and '14 and as the posts. 13

are substantially elliptical in cross section and have their longest diameter greater than the width of the slot which communicates with the apertures in the leaves, removal thereof is prevented when turned as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The sections 11 and 12' ofthe .back are into, maintain the leaves in a substantially upright position. The outer edges of the sec--v tions 11 and 12 are bent at substantially right angles to form flanges 18 and'19,by which the 1 sections are secured to'their respective binder heads, the flange 18 being preferably spot welded directly to the head 8. The flange 19 is likewise connected with its binder head 9 by spot welding or other means but is spaced therefrom by a spacer plate 20 fora purpose later described.

The heads 8 and 9 are preferably'of conventional tubular construction and the head 8 confines therein a slidably mounted rack bar 21 which is guided for longitudinal movement by guide members 22 suitably s'ecured in the head member. The rack teeth 23 of bar 21 mesh with pinions 24: suitably secured to the ends of the outer or female portions of the telescoping posts 13 so that upon longitudinal actuation of the rack bar rotation is imparted to the posts as will be with guide means 25, to be connected with nut members 26 having aright and left threaded operating screw 27 operable therein which I has one end provided with a squared portion,

27, with which a key 28 is engageable to actuate the screw. Thus it will be seen that as the screw 27 is rotated, the free ends of the "flexible posts are moved longitudinally within the head 9 to extend or retract the same therefrom which causes the head members to move toward and away from each other.

The inner or male portion of the telescoping posts 13 are freely rotatably, connected with the head member 9 by a pair of flanges 29 secured to the round ends of the posts and positioned on opposite sides of the spacing plate 20 adj acent apertures 30 therein through which the posts pass, the adjacent portion of the inwardly directed flange 19 of the back 12 being cut away, as at 31, to permit the post to extend therethrough. The spacing plate 20 has its medial portion disposed directly adjacent the wall of the head 'member 9 and has its outer end portions spaced slightly therefrom by spacing members '32 to accommodate the flanged ends of the tubular guides 25, the weld which connects the flange 19 with the head preferably being at the spacing members 32.

During use, the binder heads are spread and leg members 33 are attached to the covers 5 and 6 to maintain the same in a substantially up-right position to facilitate the handling of the leaves. The means for attaching the leg members 33 which are preferably formed of continuous lengths of strip metal bent to form, consists of conventional snap fasteners 34 carried by the cover members and with which buttons 35 secured to the legs 33 are engageable. This construction greatly expedites the connection of the leg members 33 with the cover members and provides a rigid connection therebetween.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains that I provide an improved loose leaf binder for use in connection with machine bookkeeping and the like ;in which the means for moving the binder heads and cover members is greatly simpliwfied' and in which a practical and efficient tive position.

2. The-combination with a loose leaf binder of the character described including a pair of binder heads, of a telescoping post and a substantially flexible post connecting the binder heads, and means for drawing the flexible post intoand extending the same out of one of said binder heads whereby the binder heads are moved toward and away from each other, the movement of the binder heads being guided by the telescoping posts. 3. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, a pair of binder heads connected vby a plurality of extensible posts, some of which are substantially ellipticaliin crosssection, rotatably mounted, and telescopical- 1y extensible, to, when in one position of rotation present greater width than in the oth r, other of-said posts being'substantially flexible and having their free ends received within one binder head, and means for moving said flexible posts into and out of said binder head for moving the binder heads toward and away from each other.

4. In a loose leaf binderof the character described including a back member and covers hingedly connected with the back member, leg members for supporting the covers in open position, buttons carried by theleg members, and snap fasteners adapted to re ceive said buttons for readily detachably 'connecting the leg members with the covers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ADOLPI-I G. LOTTER.

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